Olivier award-winning performance maker Marisa Carnesky reimagines British seaside variety entertainment through a diverse queer feminist lens.
This ground-breaking, breath-taking, death-defying large scale new outdoor show brings together the largest single gathering of highly-skilled, diverse women performers for the first time in a British seaside town. This woman-led company is channelling the ghosts of women from Brighton’s unique entertainment heritage to uncover lost stories and find new voices.
Researched at The National Fairground and Circus Archive the show explores the heritage of women artistes in British circus and variety, telling the untold herstories of working-class entertainment from feminist and activist perspectives. Performers like 1930s circus star Koringa who climbed a ladder of swords and worked for the French resistance, Lulu Adams the first British woman clown, 1950s sharpshooter Florence Shufflebottom and 1880s aerialist Miss LaLa who hung by her teeth and was painted by Degas, and reframes them through the work of current cutting-edge performers. It is a show that makes HERSTORY.
A cast of amazing women and non-binary people will deliver performances, tell stories and perform stunts with a sense of danger and intrigue, resulting in a truly memorable theatrical experience. All womxn aerialists, wrestlers, illusionists, glass walkers, drag kings, contemporary clowns, whip crackers, sword climbers, sideshow performers, variety dancers, contortionists, unicyclists, extraordinary performance artists, storytellers, hula-hoopers and hair hangers invite you to witness all new spectacular matriarchal utopias.
Popping-up on a downtown street in Brighton with specially designed unique sideshow stages, hand painted fairground art by local queer muralist Dave Pop, original atmospheric electronic soundscape by The Fast Set and original costumes by House of Flying Stitches – Carnesky’s Showwomxn Sideshow Spectacular brings you performances over two days.
Performers include hair hanger/comedienne Fancy Chance, spoken word artist and sword climber Livia Kojo Alour, body art performer Lucifire, rising screen star Tallulah Haddon, hula-hooping Guinness world record holder Symoné, ‘Sports Woman of the Year’ wrestler and campaigner Claire Heafford, Eva Greens body double in ‘Dumbo’ aerial superstar Katherine Arnold, contemporary Bollywood dancer Kaajel, Brighton favourite Chi Chi Revolver, drag king Molly Beth Morossa, and award-winning magician Laura London and many more.
Sat 25 & Sun 26 May
Timed entry, shows every hour
Sat, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm
Sun, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm
